Davenport-bed



April 29, 5 J. G. SEVclK 2,832,083 I DAVENPORT-BED Filed July 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w O 8 CI 6-,

J. G. SEVCIK DAVENPORT-BED April 29, 1958 Filed July 26.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J Jiefi? Z 6) o e c z.

A52 is United States PatentO 2,832,083 DAVENPORT-BED John G. Sevcik, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Burton-Dixie Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,789 8 Claims. (Cl. -14) This invention relates in general to convertible fumiture and more particularly to an article of furniture adapted when in folded conditon to be used as a sitting piece and to be used when in extended position for sleeping purposes.

Convertible furniture pieces of this general character have heretofore commonly consisted of a frame in which a foldable bed unit is hingedly mounted so that the frame and bed units are permanently connected together. The hinge connections between the bed and frame units comprise a rather complex system of levers, links, latches and often springs, with the result that this mechanism is cumbersome, is expensive to manufacture and install, and is apt to become disarranged or broken so as to impair if not destroy its usefulness.

One of the primary purposes of my present invention is to provide a davenport-bed consisting of a frame unit and a bed unit slidable within and capable of being entirely disassociated from the frame unit and in which the expensive and cumbersome hinges, levers, links, latches and springs customarily employed in hinging the bed unit to the frame unit are entirely eliminated.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a davenport-bed in which the sectional bed unit is so constructed that when folded or collapsed the mattress will not be so tightly folded or doubled as to weaken or injure the structure of the mattress, as frequently occurs in davenport-beds in which the mattress is doubled or folded tightly upon itself.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate the bend or fold of the mattress at the head of the bed which in many present day davenport-beds is produced when the bed is folded up to form the sitting piece.

Another purpose of my inventionis to provide a convertible article of furniture which when employed as a bed will prevent sagging at the center and when used as a sitting piece, will provide a strong, durable edge which will not sag or collapse under the weight of a sitting oecup ant.

Another object is to provide a convertible article of furniture of the character indicated in which the bed unit may be easily disconnected from the frame unit so that the bed may be moved and used in a position in the room remote from the frame.

A further object is to provide a davenport-bed of the character indicated which will be strong and durable in all respects, which will be of pleasing appearance and of simple construction, which may be economically manufactured and which will be capable of being readily converted from a sitting to a sleeping piece and vice versa by a woman or even a child with the expenditure of a minimum of energy.

Other objects and many of the inherent advantages of this invention will be apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a davenport-bed em bodying my invention arranged as a sitting piece;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

2,832,083 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the bed unit as partially withdrawn from the frame unit;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the bed unit extended for sleeping purposes, the outer section being shown in dotted lines in partially extended position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of therear portions of the frame unit and bed unit;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; l

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the bed unit in folded position; i

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the center section of the bed unit when in extendedposition for sleeping purposes;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the center section of the bed unit when in folded position;

Fig. 12 is a similar view with the bed unit in extended position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the manner of mounting of the seat margin supporting p Fig. 14 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 13; and r Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view showing the mounting of the bed sag preventing springs.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, it will be observed that a davenport-bed embodying my invention comprises a frame unit forming the frame or housing for the furniture piece and a bed unit adapted to be housed therein and to form a seat support for the davenport and a fiat support for sleeping purposes. The frame unit is in general of U-shaped construction consisting, as shown in Fig. 5, of the back pieces or cross members 21 (only one of which is shown in the drawings) the side pieces 22 and 23 upholstered to provide the arms of the davenport and the upholstered back 24 fixedly carried by the cross pieces 21. The frame also includes the side pieces 25 and 26 extended forwardly from the lower cross piece 21 and attached by cross arms 27 and 28, respectively, to the end pieces 22 and 23.

When the piece is to be used as a davenport for sitting purposes, the bed unit to be later described is housed within the frame unit and concealed at the front by the front board 29 carried by the bed unit, the seatingsurface above the folded or collapsed bed unit being formed by a plurality of removable seat cushions 31. r

The bed unit adapted to be housed within the frame unit, as described, consists of a rectangular base comprising a pair of angle iron bars 32 and 33 connected at their forward ends by the crossbar 34 (Fig. 8) and at their rear ends by a crossbar 35 (Figs. 4, 5). The base is slidably associated with the supporting frame members 25 and 26 by being carried at its rear end by a pair of small wheels 36 (Figs. 6 and 7). Tilting of the base by weight applied at its forward end is prevented by overlying pins 37 (Figs. 6, 7) carried by brackets 38 attached to the frame members 25 and 26.

The front end of the base slidable relatively to the frame unit is supported upon small wheels 41 which together with the rear wheels 36 make the sliding movements of the base easy to accomplish.

From Figs. 11 and 12, which are elevational views looking at the opposite side of the structure from that shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, it will be apparent that standards 43 fixedy mounted upon the forward ends of the frame members 32 and 33 provide supports upon which the center bed section carrying brackets 44 are journaled at 45. The center pieces 46 of the sectional bed frame are incorporated in a frame structure, to be later described, fixedly mounted on the bracket 44. Cross connecting bars 47 and 48 extend betweenand connect the frame structures at opposite sides of the bed, as best shown in Fig. 8.

The bed frame consists of three sections, namely, the center section comprising the side pieces 46 and the cross pieces 47 and 48, the inner end section consisting of a U-shaped frame member 49, preferably of angle iron construction, which is pivotally connected to the center section at the pivot points 51, and the outer frame section 52 similar in construction to the frame section 49 and pivoted to the center section at the points 53.

The frame structure previously mentioned, including the center section side pieces 46, comprises also the angle iron pieces 54 rigidly secured to the brackets 44 and the cross connecting pieces 55 and 56 rigidly connecting the members 46 and 54. In this manner a rigid frame construction forming the center section of the bed frame is provided which is pivotally trunnioned at 45 on the standard 43 to swing through an angle of 90 from the folded or collapsed position of the bed shown in Figs. 3 and 11 to the extended position shown in Figs. 4 and 12.

Each of the three sections of the bed frame is equipped with mattress supporting spring elements consisting of wire link fabrics attached through the intermediary of coil springs to the surrounding frame structure. The link fabric of the inner frame section 49 is indicated in Fig. by reference character 57, the coil springs being indicated by 58. Similar link fabric is carried by the outer frame section 52. The link fabric of the center section, and its manner of mounting is best shown in Fig. wherein the fabric is designated 59 and the coil springs by reference character 61.

For the purpose of supporting the link fabric of the center section to prevent sagging of the bed toward the center, I have provided a plurality of coil springs 62, preferably two rows of four each, extending transversely of the center of the bed and secured to and supported upon the cross connecting members 47 and 48 of the center frame. These anti-sag springs are disposed in horizontal inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, when the bed is folded or collapsed, but are disposed in vertical link fabric supporting position, as shown in Fig. 10, when the bed is in open or extended position.

For the purpose of supporting the front margin of the seat and to prevent breaking or sagging thereof under the weight of an occupant when the piece is arranged as a davenport, I have mounted upon a transversely extending bar 63 incorporated in the center frame section of the bed a row of coiled springs 64. These springs are clipped to the bar 63 by clips indicated by 65, best shown in Figs. 13 and 14, struck up from the bar and are attached at their upper ends by clips 66 to the cross wires of the link fabric 57.

It will be observed that the longitudinal axes of the seat margin supporting springs 64 extend at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the bed sag preventing springs 62, so that swinging movement of the center bed frame section through an arc of 90 'from extendedto folded position will bring the springs 64 into upright position at the forward margin of the seat, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. When the bed frame is'extended to swing the center bed frame section from the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 11 to that shown in Figs. 10and 12, the springs 64 are moved to horizontal position and the springs 62 are moved to vertical position to support the central portion of the bed link fabric, so as to prevent any sag thereof under the weight of. an occupant or occupants.

In order to afford a substantial support for the center bed frame section, so as to prevent it from tilting on its trunnions when the bed frame is in extended position, I have provided a support which is automatically moved into supporting position when the outer frame section 52 is swung into horizontal extended position. This support comprises, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a pair of supporting arms 67 pivoted at 68 to the frame members 32 and 33 and connected at their outer ends by links 69 to the side members 52 of the outer bed frame section. The links 69 are pivoted to the frame members 52'. to 71 and are pivotally connected to the arms 67 at 72 When the bed frame is in the collapsed or folded position, the arms 67 and links 69 will assume the position shown in Fig. 11, but when the bed frame is moved to extended position, the arms 67 will be swung to the vertical position shown in Fig. 12 wherein supporting rollers 73 carried by the arms are swung into supporting position beneath the brackets 44, thereby preventing tilting movement of the pivotally mounted center bed frame section in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 12 so long as the outer bed frame section 52 remains in extended position.

To support the outer end of the bed frame section 52 when in extended position, a pair of legs '74 is pivotally mounted on the frame section 52 at 75 and connected by a crossbar, not shown, to which a hand loop 76 is attached. To swing the section 52 from folded to extended position, the user grasps the loop 76 and pulls outwardly, thereby swinging the frame section 52 outwardly and at the same time pulling the supporting legs 74 into position to firmly support the frame section, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

To support the inner end of the bed frame section 49, a pair of legs 77 (Fig. 4) equipped with rollers or casters 80 is pivotally mounted at 73 on the frame and cross'connected similarly to the legs 74 by a bar, not shown. A pair oflinks 79 is pivotally connected at 81 with the legs 77 and at 82 to the pivoted bracket 44. When the bed frame is in extended position, the legs 77 are swung by the links 7") into the supporting position shown in Fig. 4 and when the bed is folded or collapsed, the legs are folded up against the frame section 49.

When the article of furniture is to be utilized as a sitting piece,.the bed frames are folded up into the position shown in Figs. 2 and ll with the mattress 3 3 folded once only and disposed between the spaced apart bed frame sections 49 and 52, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be observed that the mattress is not tightly folded and compressed so as to injure it, as is the case with some present day folding davcnport-beds, but is afforded ample room by the length of the center bed frame section 46 to obviate any danger of injury to the mattress structure.

When it is desired to convert the davenport into a bed, the seat cushions 31 are first laid aside, then the bed unit is partially withdrawn from the frame unit from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown ,in Fig.- 3. The user then grasps the loop 76 and swings outer-bed frame section 52 upwardly and outwardly about the pivots 53, which movement at the same time causes the'center bed section to swing from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. The legs 74 are pulled by means of the loop 76 into the position shown in Fig. 4 and the legs 77 are moved by the links 79 into supporting position as the center frame section swings from the position of Figs. 3 and 1] to that of Figs. 4 and 12. Both the folding and unfolding of the bed is easily accomplished with the exertion of only a slight degree of effort Should it he desired to entirely remove the bed unit from the stationary frame unit to place thebed unit in some remote location, the bed unit is simply pulled out until it is entirely dis-associated from the frame unit. Any suitable latch or stop may be provided to normally prevent such withdrawal.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a bed-.davenport which is simple in construction and devoid of complicated and expensive .hinge mechanisms and heavy springs, one which is economical ass 12,083

to manufacture and which will be strong and durable in use and which can be readily converted from davcnport to bed and vice versa With a minimum of effort.

The structural details shown and described for illt1s trative purposes may obviously be varied Witl' siderable limits without de ating from the one my invc tion as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. in a davenport-bed, the combination of frame structure, a bed and seat unit ctr-mp1,. port slidably associated with said frame 1-: bed frame consisting of a center section and end sections pivoted thereto, said center section being trunnioned on said support, coil springs carried by the cent tion for supporting the central portion of a bed J. legs for supporting an end of said frame, operable by said center frame section for movie legs LG frame supporting position when said bed frame is moved to extended'position, fabric spring carried by each of said frame sections, one of said spring means being positioned to support seat cushions when the frame is collapsed, and additional spring means 32hr ed by said support in position to support the front edge of said cushions.

2. In a davenport-bed, the combination of a frame structure, a unit slidably associated therewith, said unit comprising a slidable support, a bed frame pivotally mounted on said support and comprising a center S663 tion and end sections pivoted thereto, legs for support ing an end of said frame, a linlt connecting said i with said center section whereby said legs are collapsed by folding movement of ti bed frame and are extended by extension of the bed frame, and coi springs carried by said support for supporting the forward edge of the davenport seat and for supporting the central portion of the bed mattress.

3. A clavenportbed comprising a frame structure, a unit supported independently of and slidable relatively to said frame structure, said unit consisting of a support, a center bed frame section trunuioned said support, and bed frame sections pivoted to said center section, anti-sag bed springs carried by said center section and seat margin supporting springs carried by said center section, said springs being so constructed and arranged that the anti-sag springs are disposed in bed supcrting position when the bed frame is extended e seat margin supporting springs are disposed in seat supporting position when the bed frame is collapsed.

4. In a davenport-bed, the combination of a stationary frame structure, a slidable unit telescopically associated with said frame structure but unconnected thereto, said unit comprising a support, a center bed section trunnioned on said support, end bed frame sections pivoted to said center section. collapsible legs supporting the outer end of said end sections and a plurality of sets of coiled springs carried by said center section, said springs being so constructed and arranged to be alternately disposed in operative position when the bed frame is respectively in collapsed and extended positions.

5. In a davenport-bed, the combination of a frame structure, a bed and seat unit slidably associated therewith and comprising a support and a frame consisting of a center section journaled on said support and a plustationary 6 rality of and sections connected thereto, lint: fabrics carried by said sections, and a plurality of sets of coil springs mounted on said support, one of said sets being positioned to reinforce the fabric of the center section when the sectional bed frame is extended and the other being ,r ositioned to lGlfit'OlCe the fabric of an end section forn'n'tn the forward edge of the da enport seat when said frame is collapsed.

6. in a davenport-bed, the combination of a frame st zturrz a unit slidably associated therewith and comb g, a support and a frame consisting of a center section and end sections pivoted thereto, link fabrics carried by said sections, and spring means on said support for reinforcing the fabrics of the center section when the frame is extended collapsed to provide a bed and a davenport seat, respectively, and for s2 crling the front margin of the davenport seat.

7. in a davenport-be having seat cushions, the combination of a stationary frame structure, a bed and seat unit supported independently of said frame structure and constructed and arran ed to be positioned at will within the confines of said Liaillfi structure to provide a davenport seat support or Wholly or partially outside said con fines to form a bed, said unit comprising a slidable sup port, a center frame section pivotally mounted thereon, a pair of end frame sections hinged to said c nter section to form in conjunction therewith when extended a con tinuous flat horizontal mattress support and to be disposed when coll peed in parallel spaced apart relation embracing an interposed folded on s, supporting spring means carried by said frame sections for supporting the mattress, said means on one of end sec tions being positioned to support the devenport seat cushions when said seat unit is in collapsed position, coil springs for reinforcing the center section when the bed is extended and coil. springs providing additional support for the front margin of the scat unit when in collapsed position.

8. In a davenport-bed, the combination of a frame structure, a unit slidably associated therewith and comprising a support and frame consisting of a center section and end sections pivoted thereto, liol: fabrics carried by said sections, a collapsible frame consisting of a center section iournaled on said support and on! sections pivotally connected thereto, one of said sections being positioned When said frame is collapsed to support the seat cushions of the davenport, a seat cushion 'esting on said end section, spring means on said support for reinforcing the fabrics of the center section when the frame is extended and collapsed to form a bed and a davenport seat respectively, and for supporting the front margin of the davenport seat When collapsed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATEI'JTS 

